The Lowdown On The Hatters Checkatrade Trophy Draw

It’s a competition that the Hatters, in the past, have enjoyed some success in, especially against sides who play their football in a higher division.

This season, although our League One campaign takes priority, the Checkatrade does offer a break from the competitive nature of our bread-and-butter football.

As is the norm, the group stages are split into the Northern and Southern sections, the Hatters courtesy of their geographical location will play in the Southern Section.

The draw placed Luton in Group H, alongside;

• Milton Keynes Dons

• Peterborough United

and

• Brighton and Hove Albion U21’s

Brighton are one of the 16 invited category one academies.

For Luton, the group provides two attractive local derbies and a tie against the youngsters of a Premier League club.

The rules of the competition state that the Hatters will play each club once and if the result is a draw after 90 minutes then a penalty shoot-out will ensue with the winners getting an additional point from the fixture.

If the Hatters manage to top their group they will advance to the knockout stages with the winners of the other fifteen groups.

However, despite our obvious enthusiasm for the competition, it does have its downside, attendances for the fixtures are usually, to put it mildly, on the low side, hopefully, things will improve, even more so when you consider that the final is played at some ground called Wembley!